How to Find the Right Music Teacher for You · Musicianship Mastery with David Lane · Radar

Why Work With a Teacher?2:03 – 4:06

2:03

So what is the value of having a teacher versus doing it on your own? For some of you, that's probably obvious, but for others, you may be asking that as a genuine question.

2:11

Why can't I just watch YouTube videos? Why can't I just read books and learn everything I need to know on the subject? Well, the biggest problem is that when you're by yourself, you're trying to learn, but you're also trying to guide yourself, and it's very hard to do those two things at the same time.

2:31

You get too close to the problem.

2:34

Now, you can compensate for that by recording what you do on video and then going back and watching as a teacher.

2:42

But sometimes you just don't know what you're looking for.

2:45

See, the value of a good teacher is that they've seen almost everything done poorly and done well, so a good teacher is going to recognize both when they see it.

2:57

As someone who's self-taught, you may not always see that difference, so you might develop some bad habits while not being aware that they are bad habits.

3:06

Also, as you get advanced, you're going to come up with problems.

3:10

You're not gonna know how to go forward on something with easily.

3:13

So if you're self-taught, you've got to do a lot of trial and error.

3:17

You've got to see if you can find the right video, see if you can find the right book, the right blog posts that'll give you the information you need, and then try that.

3:27

Where, again, a good teacher is probably going to be able to help you go through that process much faster.

3:33

It's not that they'll have the right answer on the first attempt, just like a doctor doesn't always give you the right diagnosis the first time, or a car mechanic.

3:43

But they're probably very close.

3:45

They're probably making very educated deductions, things that are informed from experience.

3:52

Now, what about mentors? So the person who reached out to me heard a very early podcast episode where I talked about the importance of having a teacher or a mentor, but I didn't elaborate on that episode, which is why they were reaching out.

Why Work With a Teacher?2:03 – 4:06

2:03

So what is the value of having a teacher versus doing it on your own? For some of you, that's probably obvious, but for others, you may be asking that as a genuine question.

2:11

Why can't I just watch YouTube videos? Why can't I just read books and learn everything I need to know on the subject? Well, the biggest problem is that when you're by yourself, you're trying to learn, but you're also trying to guide yourself, and it's very hard to do those two things at the same time.

2:31

You get too close to the problem.

2:34

Now, you can compensate for that by recording what you do on video and then going back and watching as a teacher.

2:42

But sometimes you just don't know what you're looking for.

2:45

See, the value of a good teacher is that they've seen almost everything done poorly and done well, so a good teacher is going to recognize both when they see it.

2:57

As someone who's self-taught, you may not always see that difference, so you might develop some bad habits while not being aware that they are bad habits.

3:06

Also, as you get advanced, you're going to come up with problems.

3:10

You're not gonna know how to go forward on something with easily.

3:13

So if you're self-taught, you've got to do a lot of trial and error.

3:17

You've got to see if you can find the right video, see if you can find the right book, the right blog posts that'll give you the information you need, and then try that.

3:27

Where, again, a good teacher is probably going to be able to help you go through that process much faster.

3:33

It's not that they'll have the right answer on the first attempt, just like a doctor doesn't always give you the right diagnosis the first time, or a car mechanic.

3:43

But they're probably very close.

3:45

They're probably making very educated deductions, things that are informed from experience.

3:52

Now, what about mentors? So the person who reached out to me heard a very early podcast episode where I talked about the importance of having a teacher or a mentor, but I didn't elaborate on that episode, which is why they were reaching out.